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Mount Eden Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon

Santa Cruz, California, 2002 - $40

It’s always nice to save money on a good value bottle. Sometimes, however, it can be satisfying to splurge ever so slightly. Unfortunately, the market is flooded with $30-50 wine which isn’t worth the price tag, and California Cabernet is no exception. That’s why I’ve decided to recommend this Mount Eden Cab: a wine that you can feel comfortable investing in.

The unique location of this vineyard, especially for Cabernet vines, contributes greatly to the character of its wine. At 2000 feet above the Santa Clara Valley, the costal climate is cool, providing refreshing acidity and moderate alcohol. The 2002 growing season was cool and long; the winemaker’s expectations were high. The nose is reminiscent of lead pencil and dark berries, while the palate is full of earthy currant and licorice. Barrel tannins are apparent throughout the long finish, along with pepper and bitter chocolate.

The winery recommends cellaring this wine for as much as 15 years, though I maintain it is quite enjoyable now, especially after some air exposure. Throw it in a decanter and drink it an hour or two later with a thick, juicy steak.

Duckhorn Vineyards Estate Grown Cabernet

Napa Valley, California, 2003 - $100

Who doesn’t like to spoil themselves from time to time’ Well if you’re having trouble deciding on a bottle to do it with, I’m here to help. Few things are more indulgent and decadent than a really nice California Cabernet, and Duckhorn has one of the best. So if you’re looking for a big meaty wine, and you don’t mind spending a couple bucks to find it, well look no further. After all, you’re worth it.

The 2003 growing season was atypical, and the bizarre weather patterns ultimately resulted in lower yields at harvest. Grapes are collected several times throughout harvest from three estate vineyards, with only mature fruit being picked on each pass. The wine is aged for 20 months in 100% new French oak, which is apparent on both the nose and the palate. Also look for aromas of dark berries and cocoa, and flavors of blue and raspberry, along with a hint of vanilla spice. The tannins are well structured, and apparent throughout the long, layered finish.

For the weight of this wine, it is remarkably well balanced and ready to drink. It may improve with some aging, as much as ten years, though I think the best bet is to drink it on the next cold night. Pair it with a roaring fire, and good friends.

Avalon Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2003

There are people out there who are literally paying thousands of dollars for single bottles of some California Cabernets, but the folks at Avalon don’t think that makes any sense, and neither do I. The truth is you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a great bottle of wine. Avalon’s Napa Valley offering is the embodiment of this philosophy. While one of my colleagues has already written about another Avalon wine, I think it is importnat to reiterate the value of such an underpriced wine.

Winemaker Alex Cose sources fruit from all over the Valley to produce a wine which demonstrates the depth that Napa grapes can deliver. The ‘Rutherford Dust’ is particularly apparent in this bottle. On the nose look for concentrated fruit like cherry and plum framed by tobacco and caramel. Blueberry and cassis on the palate give way to a lingering finish of nutmeg and oak. The wine is full, yet remarkably well balanced.

This wine is delicious, and at 15 bucks cheap enough to drink every day, so stock up with a case or two. Enjoy with red meats and stinky cheeses, or alongside the last few barbeques of the year.

Up till recently I used to be a terrior snob.  Always thinking the best wines must come from the most premier vineyards.  So needless to say Pennsylvania was not on the top of my list.  However, after reading a recent article in Wine Spectator which reported that there is now at least one winery in every state in the union (yes even Alaska!) I broke my snobby habit. After trying Chaddsford Miller Estate Chardonnay, I couldn?t have made a better decision…

Aged in 50% in new French and Hungarian oak for 8 months, the imparted flavor is not as overbearing as some hoity toity California chards.  Although the winery claims the wine does go through mallo-lactic fermentation the wine is very crisp and without that ‘hard water’ butter coating on the palate.  The result is a White Burgundy copycat.  There are overwhelming notes of crisp fresh apple that encompass this wine.  There are also lower notes which are more dynamic.  These include just a soup of sweet cream, and a flutter of lemon zest.

Expect to pay around $25-$30

E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage, 2003, C’ du Rhone France

The C’ du Rhone region of Southern France is one of the most well respected, albeit most complex wine regions of the world. Basically, we’re talking about a 2000 year old wine growing region located on the river Rhone and divided into North and South. In the Southern Rhone, as many as 23 different grape varieties are used to make wine. Most notably are Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault and Carignan for reds; Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Clairet and Bourboulenc for whites. In the North, however, only four varietals are permitted for use in wines: Syrah for red and Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne for white.

Crozes-Hermitage is in the Northern Rhone so the reds are all Syrah and the whites all Marsanne-Roussanne. E. Guigal does one of each. The deep purple, red example is full of fruit - black currant and cherries - on the palate, as well as the nose. The soil consists of limestone, clay and silt with sandy gravel, which contributes a slight minerality to the otherwise fruit-forward wine. The finish of spice and olives is long, but subtle, with refined tannins from extensive oak aging.

 

  

  

The white Crozes-Hermitage from E. Guigal is a blend of Marsanne with small amounts of Roussanne, so it is fat and dry, full-bodied, yet elegant. Floral on the nose, and citric on the palate, this wine is reminiscent of under ripe pineapple. Honeysuckle gives way to lemon peel, with light oak and bright, crisp acidity. The golden yellow wine is clean and fresh with fruit and minerality.

Pairing is easy; have red meats with the red and white meats with the white. Both do well with cheese. I liked heavier blue cheeses with Syrah and some softer milder brie with the Marsanne. I like duck with either, though not with the same accompaniments. Try mushrooms and demi-glace with the red, pasta and a light tomato sauce with the white. As always, the pairing of a nice cigar should never go overlooked.

Crozes-Hermitage has rich soil, which is thought of as being easier to work with than its neighbors. This fact, along with being the largest region of the Northern Rh? helps to produce quality wines at a good price. E. Guigal’s red and white are both priced around $20-$25. Perhaps my favorite producer in the Rh?onethey do some pricier stuff as well. Look for their Hermitage at about 60 bucks and the Chau de A’mpuis from CR at around $140.

Here are the September Wine Bargains.  Remember, Frequent Winers (that’s you) get 20% off on a case of 12 bottles (mix or match).  Feel free to stop by and pick out your wines or send us an e-mail and we’ll have it pulled and ready when you arrive… click read more for the reviews.

White Wines:

Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc, 2005, Clarksburg, California $11 - I love the ugly duckling grape varieties.  If this said chardonnay, it would be $20.   Crisp, delightful, bright pear fruit, floral scented and oh so yummy.
 
Esporao ?Monte Velho? Vinho Branco, 2005, Alentejano, Portugal $11 - Wow.  Made from 3 grapes I?ve never heard of?Rabo de Ovelha (which translates as ewe’s tail, so-called because of the elongated shape of the grape bunch), Roupeiro, & Perrum.  Gorgeous nose of flowers is followed by a rich palate of floral pear and apple.  Reminds me of Pinot Gris.  Don?t miss it?
 
Chateau Lauduc Sauvignon/Semillon, 2005, Bordeaux, France $11 - From the heralded ?05 vintage.  Mineral scented with citrus, melon and a touch of fresh herbs.  A great crisp seafood white.
 
Domaine Jean Touzot Macon Villages, 2005, Burgundy, France $11 - Pure, unadulterated, mineral laden chardonnay.  Like a fresh Granny Smith apple picked right from the tree.
 
Pascual Toso Chardonnay, 2004, Mendoza, Argentina $11 - Paul Hobbs is at the helm here and producing fantastic bargains.  Loads of fresh mango, pineapple and sweet vanilla bean.  A touch of oak and crisp acidity give it some backbone.   Interestingly, the Wine Spectator review says it tastes like cherimoya.  Bonus points for anyone who can tell us what that is?.
 
Undurraga Gewurztraminer, 2006, Maipo Valley, Chile  $8 - I was very skeptical about Gewurz from Chile.  Boy was I surprised.  It has a beautiful delicate rose petal, Lychee,  & peach nose and richness on the palate that finishes clean and dry.  Works wonderfully with take out Chinese or anything a little spicy.
 
 
Red Wines:

Cycles Gladiator ?Pinot Noir?, 2005, Central Coast, California $12 - O.K. this is a good bottle of wine.  It?s not necessarily a good bottle of Pinot Noir (which is why I put it in parenthesis).  Since the movie Sideways put the Pinot craze in motion, vintners in California making bargain Pinot Noir have had to add other varietals to stretch their cases.  In California, they need only have 75% of a particular grape to label it as such.  The Cycles Gladiator website doesn?t list varietal make-up for this wine, but my guess is it has 25% Zinfandel in it.  True Pinot Noir is about finesse, texture (silk and taffeta) and delicacy.  So why are we featuring it?  Because I really like it.  It has that soft berry, forest underbrush from Pinot Noir but dark color and jammy spicy red berry fruit from whatever else was blended in?Zin, Syrah, Petit Sirah?  Just wanted to give you a ?heads up?.  I?ll get off my soapbox now and get back to work?.
 
Aveleda ?Charamba? Vinho Tinto, 2004, Douro, Portugal $9 - Traditional Port varieties are used to make this delicious dry red that?s a perennial favorite of ours.  Exuberant, rich, & personality-filled with earthy, almond and berry notes.
 
Cantina del Pino ?Ragazzaccio?, Piedmont, Italy $11 - Yeee Haa!  Ragazzaccio is back!!  Cantina del Pino is a serious producer in Piedmont that ?bleeds? juice off of their Barbaresco during fermentation to concentrate it.  The juice that comes off ends up in Ragazzaccio?which, by the way,  means ?bad boy? or rascal.  So it?s sort of a Baby Barbaresco.  It is a seductive spice & cranberry scented wine with just a hint of Nebbiolo?s tannin on the finish.  Fantastic Spaghetti Red.
 
Red Flyer, 2003, California $10 - Ahh yes!  The California kitchen sink blend.  In my mind, these are some of the best values coming out of the sunshine state.  This Rhone style blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache and Carignane is juicy and mouthfilliing with oodles of jammy raspberry and blackberry fruit.
 
Blue Jean Red, California $11 - A delicious multi-vintage blend of Cabernet Sauvignon,  Merlot, Syrah, & Zinfandel.  Oddly, It?s often tough to find solid bargain stuff from california.  It?s either mass marketed schlock or thin and insipid.  Goofy name, but yummy stuff.
 
Hell Raiser Cabernet / Merlot, 2004, South Eastern Australia $10 - Fully ripe (I hate mean green cabernet) with loads of rich plum and black cherry fruit, great spice and hint of oak.  Not terribly tannic, but full bodied and impressive for the $$.

Iron Bridge Wine Company is open early at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday for convenient wine shopping!! Questions?? or to place an order…. email rob@ironbridgewines.com or call 410-997-3456.